No. 8. Common Cyprus Finches



{Note: click on photos to enlarge the image}

Finches are a large family of small to medium-sized songbirds, many with distinctive and attractive songs. Most Finches are colourful and have strong triangular-shaped bills that are adapted primarily for eating seeds, though they will also take insects during the summer months. In certain species, such as the Hawfinch and Bullfinch, the beaks are strong enough to open nuts.



Male Chaffinch in full breeding condition



Female Chaffinch, less colourful than the male


Chaffinch and Goldfinch, sharing nest building resources


Male Chaffinch and Serin sharing a muddy pool


Finches occupy a wide range of habitats, though in the UK and Europe they primarily live in deciduous woodlands, orchards, parks and gardens. The Chaffinch is now one of the commonest songbirds in the UK and its distinctive song is easily recognised and a clear sign of spring and summer. It is not so commonly seen or heard in Cyprus.

The Greenfinch is one of the larger Finches and the the green plumage of the male can be bright enough to often appear to be yellow. In winter Greenfinches congregate in large flocks that can be hard to identify.  The Greenfinch song is again very distinctive in spring and summer,  comprising several basic main themes.



Male Greenfinch showing bright green colouration


Female Greenfinch, noticeably lees vivid than the male


Adult male Greenfinch. Note the size of the beak!

Winter flocks of Finches generally separate into male and female groups - particularly in Greenfinches. Goldfinches tend to associate as large foraging groups during most of the year, and their twittering flight calls are easily recognised. Serins and Linnets also form large flocks during winter and spring but then pair off during the summer.



Adult Goldfinch in fruit tree, Secret Valley



Small flock of Goldfinches feeding together, Paphos Headland



Adult Goldfinch in full breeding condition


Because of their attractive colouring and songs many species of Finches are captured and caged by man. Typical examples of such birds are the Linnet, the Canary and the Goldfinch. The Canary is not indigenous to Cyprus but is brought into the country as caged birds and  are frequently kept outside Cypriot houses and commercial properties, as are Linnets. This practice was also very common in Britain until comparatively recently, but the relative scarcity of songbirds has caused an inevitable, though welcome, decline in this trend.



Male Linnet in full breeding condition



Pair of Linnets in winter plumage (male front, female behind)



Male Linnet, breeding condition, Mandria


The Siskin is one of the smaller Finches and is recognised by its very small bill and the bright yellow colouring of the male. In early spring they are readily seen in small flocks at Secret Valley, and they regularly congregate in the trees around the 11th green and the 12th tee. They can be hard to recognise from a distance as they look like any small brown birds, but when seen from close to the yellow colouration is distinctive.




Serin male, cooling his feet


Female Serin, lacking the strong yellow colouration of the male


Fruit tree with many Serin roosting


Male Serin in full breeding condition


All photographs and text by Trevor Fordham

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No. 21 Cyprus Butterflies and Moths - an initial look

Image
  [Remember to click on a photograph to enlarge the image] During the spring, summer and autumn of 2020 I have been keeping an eye out for any butterflies or moths that have caught my interest. I am sure that we are all familiar with some of the larger species of butterflies that we see in gardens, parks and other vegetated spaces (including the golf course), but trying to identify the smaller and less familiar species can be quite a challenge. Photography is obviously a great help in the process, though catching individuals at rest or feeding (particularly the smaller species) requires good fortune and a fair amount of patience.  Many people wonder what the difference is between butterflies and moths. The main differences are: butterflies have club-shaped antennae, while moths have feathery or other shaped antennae; butterflies are only active during the day, whilst moths are generally nocturnal (though by no means exclusively); butterflies generally rest with their wings clo...
Read more

32. Some common Raptors

Image
  NB. Remember to click on a photograph to enlarge the image. The term 'Raptor' refers to birds of prey and therefore includes all eagles, hawks and falcons.  We are fortunate in Cyprus to have a wide selection of resident and migratory species, though some are very much more easily seen than others. The Kestrel is undoubtedly the most common raptor species and breeding pairs of them are resident at Secret Valley golf course. The following selection shows some of the more easily seen species that I have been able to photograph over the past winter & spring period, with a note of where and when seen. A good pair of binoculars certainly makes identification much easier, and the photographs can usually confirm the species seen. 1. Common Buzzard Adult Common Buzzard - keeping an imperious eye on me The Common Buzzard is now one of the most commonly seen raptors in the UK, numbers having steadily increased over the past 40 years or so. They are also a well-known species throug...
Read more

30. Marsh birds seen during Spring 2022

Image
 N.B. - Remember to click on the photograph to enlarge the image for greater detail Springtime 2022 was considerably delayed this year, largely due to the exceptionally cold periods that lasted throughout February and March. Consequently the spring migration of many birds was much later, and it was well into April and May before the usual flocks of Bee-eaters were finally heard (and sometimes seen) to be passing northwards.   The following selection are some of the birds that I was able to photograph during March and April, mostly at Akrotiri Marsh, Lady's Mile and Mandria. 1. Chiffchaff The Chiffchaff is one of the smaller members of the Warbler family and can be hard to distinguish from the Willow Warbler. However, the resident and migratory populations of Chiffchaff were present in large numbers during this spring, whilst the Willow Warbler did not appear until rather later. Though not particularly associated with marshland habitats this species is nevertheless commonly see...
Read more